Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-02-15
An Auspicious Opening Of the Exposition,
Last Evening.
ATTENDANCE UP TO EXPECTATIONS.
The Introductory Remarks Of Ez-Prssldent
7. ]. Irwin.
DISPLAY ATTRACTIVE AND VARIED.
Booths Filled With a Variety Of Useful and
Ornamental Articles.
The AFFAIR A GRAND SUCCESS.

Ladies and gentlemen both were busy
all day yesterday completing the final ar
engagements for the opening of the great
Trades Assembly Fair and Industrial Ex-
position at the Chapline Street Rink, which
occurred last evening. The weather was
too terrible to expect much Of a crowd, but
the attendance was very fair considering all
the adverse circumstances. The gas pipes
became filled with water and the gas al
most went completely out several times
during the evening which prevented the
visitors from fully appreciating the elegant
displays made i'll the various booths.
However, the rink presented a very gay
appearance, being decorated with ever
greens and flags, while the bright cOlors in
which the different booths were trimmed
and the moving throng lent a great deal
of animation 10 the scene Mayors
full band occupied the band stand and
rendered q programme OF lively airs dur
ing the evening which added enjoyment to
the occasion.
The display of donated goods and the
articles of handiwork OF members of the
organizations in the Trades Assembly was
beyond all expectations and the most san
guine were surprised to see the aggregation
of handsome and useful articles distributed
around in the various booths to which
they were donated, and there are many
more to com in. 1t is not too much to
say that the fair is an immense suSccSS so
far and will increase in immensely as the
week runs its course.
At 3 o'clock Mr.. W. S. Meek called the
assemblage to order and after explaining
the cause of the poor gas introduced MIR.
7. ]. Irwin, OF Local Union No. ID,
of Martins Ferry, the first President
of the Ohio Valley Trades and Labor
Assembly, who made the opening address.
The gentleman gave u brief history of the
Trades Assembly in this section. He
spoke of the first steps being taken at
Martins Ferry by members OF the Glass
Workers Union, Knights of Labor and the
A~malgamated Association. After they
had talked it over some time
members of Prosperity Assembly, of
this city visited them and invited them
over. They accepted the invitation and
when the idea became known among the
workmen a large number signitied their
Willingness to take hold Of the matter,
which was soOn done. From the time of
it's inception until now the Ohio Valley
n - ,I,r Aynp,hlr hos steadily
grown until it includes i'll its membership
every labor organization within a radius Of
twenty miles with n or
two exceptions, there being
a total of thirty-eight organizations under
its control, with Il membership OF about
1000. Since its establishment similar or
carnations have been formed at PittShurg,
Steubenville, and several points down the
river, which makes q continuous line from
Pittsburg to Cincinnati. Feeling the need
of a press of their own, the Assembly held
"A big picnic last year, from which they
made enough to found their present labor
paper. the Budget. For some time past
the Assembly has felt the necessity for a
suitable hall in which to hold their meet
ings, and the idea of a fair and industrial
exhibition being suggested it was imme-
diately taken up, with what result the
visitors can see for themselves.
The gentleman then closed and thespec-
tators spent the balance of the evening
taking IN the sights. The gas will he
fixed today and in addition o lOcOmO-
tive headlights will be put in the rink, 80
the scene will be one of brilliancy this
evening. AREGIsTER reporter meandercd
around last evening for some time, and
what he saw is given below: